Reference-Point-Based Branch and Bound Algorithm for Multiobjective Optimization

Abstract

In this paper, a branch and bound algorithm that incorporates the decision maker's preference information is proposed for multiobjective optimization. In the proposed algorithm, a new discarding test is designed to check whether a box contains preferred solutions according to the preference information expressed by means of reference points. In this way, the proposed algorithm is able to gradually guide the search towards the region of interest on the Pareto fronts during the solution process. We prove that the proposed algorithm obtains $\varepsilon$-efficient solutions distributed in the region of interest. Moreover, lower bound on the total finite number of required iterations for predefined precision is also provided. Finally, the algorithm is illustrated with a number of test problems.